Rydges North Sydney

The team were the highlight of my stay at Rydges North Sydney. They were friendly and welcoming from the moment I arrived, and went out of their way to make sure I had what I needed. The place felt homely, which is rare in a busy city hotel. The location is strategic and convenient, with coffee, restaurants, and transport into the city all a short walk away. The rooms were comfortable and well equipped, and the price was reasonable for the facilities. I’d highly recommend it if you want convenience, comfort, and genuine hospitality in North Sydney. I’ll stay here again.

The location is nice and the rooms were good, but I felt let down for a 4-star hotel. Most of the staff were nice enough, though one middle-aged Indian man at reception was very rude. He barely looked up or smiled during check-in, directed me to the self check-in machine, then dropped a leaflet on the desk. Asking him to bring up plates felt like a big inconvenience, and I had to call twice. Daily housekeeping mostly meant clearing the bins, replacing towels, and tidying the bed. One day they left scuff marks or other black marks on the bathroom tiles and living room floors. The shower gel and shampoo weren’t changed for two days. The breakfast buffet was very basic and not worth the discounted $27 we paid.

The hotel was lovely, and they kindly covered our parking and breakfast after a check-in mix-up. We’d booked online, but when we arrived they said there were no double rooms. I tried to cancel for a refund and called the booking provider, but after several minutes the call cut off, and I’d already waited 25 minutes without getting anywhere. Then another staff member came down and offered to turn our twin room into a double within 20 minutes. It took about half an hour, but thankfully they sorted it out. We’d come all the way from Penrith and it was getting late, so the complimentary extras were a lovely gesture.

The rooms are modern and comfortable, though the pillows were all very high and crammed into undersized cases, which wasn’t good for my neck. Getting to North Sydney or the metro is convenient, but both involve an uphill walk, and the driveway is fairly steep too. There’s fragrance in the shared areas, and that made breakfast inaccessible for me. I wish hotels would stop using it. Some people may like the smell, but it can be a real problem for people with various health conditions.